Flashing lantern



Aug. 13, 1 R. c. MILLER FLASHING LANTERN Filed March 4, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l i-llllllllllllillllv INVENTOR. RC. MILLER ATTO g- 1940- R. c. MILLER FLASHING LANTERN Filed March 4, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. R. C. M I L L ER ATTO EY.

Patented Aug. 13, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE FLASHING LANTERN Roy 0. Miller, nes Angeleaqouf. Application March 4, 1939, seamezaszs 3 Claims. (attic-49) This invention relates to flashing lanterns. The general object of the invention is to provide an improved lantern which embodies novel means for causing intermittent flashes which serve as a warning signal.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a flashing lantern including an oil receptacle and a burner and wherein a rotating panel is arranged about the burner to cause'i-ntermittent flashes of colored lights which can be seen by an observer.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved flashing means for a lantern.

Other objects and. the advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig 1. is a side elevation partly in section showing my invention; f

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 22, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modification; and Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 44, Fig. 3.

I Referring to the drawings by reference characters I have shown my invention as embodied in a lantern which is indicated generally at I0. As shown the lanternincludes a base II which may be made of metal and is provided with the usual lower bead' lZiso that it may be supported on a suitable surface.

The base II is provided with an upper portion I 3 which in conjunction with the side wall l4 forms a container l5 for oil. The container is closed by the top member l6. From the container a yoke member l6 extends upwardly and is of general U shape being preferably hollow. At its top the yoke member [6' includes a top member ll which serves as a support for the chimney supporting member l8 which has a circular resilient wire portion I9 engaging a chimney which is' disposed about the usual burner 2|.

The lower end of the chimney engages the top of the container at 22 and is shown as suitably held in place by a projecting portion 23 on the container. The yoke member I6 is provided with supports 24 for a bail 25 by means of which the lantern may be transported.

Mounted on supports 26 which extend across the base I show a housing 21 which includes a suitable clock spring motor adapted to be wound by a member 28. This motor is of standard construction and includes a shaft 29'on which a spur gear 30 is mounted. This gear 30 drives a gear 3| on a shaft 32 which passes through a tube 33,

'the latter extending through the fuel container.

At its upper end the shaft '32 supports a gear 34 which meshes with a gear 35 on the periphery of a base member 36 which is rotatable in a support 3l'.mounted on the top N5 of the container. The support 3''! is U shaped in cross section. 5

' On the gear'35 I show a flanged collar 38 which is resilient and which receives the lower end of a transparent or translucent sleeve 39 which is shown asprovided with alternate sections 40 and, ii of. different colors. The upper portion of the sleeve is open so that the light from the burner will be directed upwardly as well as laterally.

, In operation the lantern is filled and lighted in the usual manner and is then set upon the up 7 ground or is hung from a suitable support after the motor has been wound by turning the member 28. The clock work is so geared that the sleeve 39 revolves at a suitable speed. Thus from any point of view an observer will note a different color of light as the difierent colors of the mem- 20 ber39 pass between the observer and the light. In this way the light directedfrom the upper portion of the members 39 illuminates the object to be protected while the-side wall of this member serves tov give a warning flash at intervals.

It is well recognized that'fiashing signs are much more likely. to be observed than those which emit light continuously of the same color and with my construction less lanterns will be em- 30 ployed to do the same work.

In Figs. 3 and 4 I show a modification ofmy invention which is embodied in a lantern indicated generally at and which is similar in all respectsto the lantern [0 previously described 35 except in the manner in which the rotating member ismounted and constructed.

In the modification a gear 5| includes a flanged portion 52 which engages the top element 53 of a ball race, the lower element of the ball race 54 g 40 having a tight fit against the shoulder portion 55 on the top 56 of the fuel container 51. Mounted on the flange 52 I secure a translucent cylinder 58 which is shown as provided with alternate sections 59 and 60 of different colors.

Mounted on the top 56 of the container and within the cylinder 58 I secure an opaque sleeve 6| which includes a pair of slots 62 with the slots extending parallel to the axis of the sleeve 6|. 50

Mounted without the cylinder 58 I show an outer sleeve 63 which includes openings 64; The outer sleeve 63 includes inwardly bent portions 65 from which portions 66 extend downwardly to engage the upper end of the sleeve 6|. In this 55 periodic 25 way the outer sleeve is mounted to rotate on the inner sleeve so that the openings 62 and 64 on the inner and outer sleeves may be brought into registry or moved out of registry so that the width of the light emitting openings can be varied.

The outer sleeve includes a truncated portion 66 which extends upwardly and which is surmounted by a cylindrical portion 61 of a reduced diameter. On the portion 61 I arrange a closure 68 which prevents passage of light upwardly when in place.

In use of the modification the outer sleeve is turned to control the width of the light emitting slits and the closure 68 is arranged in place and the lantern is mounted in the desired location. When the lantern is to be observed by persons close to the lantern I prefer to make the slit openings narrow so that a quick flash will be visible. When the lantern is removed from the observer I prefer to employ wide slits.

Where it is desirable to illuminate the object being protected I prefer to omit the cover 58, but when it is, not desirable to illuminate the object the cover is secured in place.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have invented a novel flashing lan-.

tern which is highly eificient for the intended purpose.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. In a flashing lantern, a hollow base having a fuel receptacle .mounted thereon, said fuel receptacle having a top portion, a chimney mounted on said receptacle, a burner on said top portion and communicating with said receptacle, a cylinder mounted to rotate between said burner and said chimney, said cylinder including a translucent wall having alternate sections of diiierent colors, an opaque sleeve mounted on said top within the cylinder, said sleeve having a pair of slots therein which are parallel to the axis of the sleeve, an outer sleeve surrounding said cylinder and rotatably mounted on said inner sleeve, said outer sleeve having openings adapted to be aligned with the inner sleeve openings so that the width of light emitting openings may be varied, a clock Work mechanism mounted in said hollow base, a drive member extending irom the clock work mechanism, a gear on the i drive member anda gear on the cylinder engaging the drive member gear.

2. In a flashing lantern, a hollow base having a fuel receptacle mounted thereon, said fuel receptacle having a top portion, a chimney mounted on said receptacle, a burner on said top portion and communicating with said receptacle, a cylinder mounted to rotate between said burner and said chimney, said cylinder including a translucent wall having alternate sections of different colors, an opaque sleeve mounted on said top within the cylinder, said sleeve having a pair of slots therein which are parallel to the axis of the sleeve, an outer sleeve surrounding said cylinder and rotatably mounted on said inner sleeve, said outer sleeve having openings adapted to be aligned with the inner sleeve openings so that the width of the light emitting openings may be varied, a clock work mechanism mounted in said hollow base, a tube extending from the hollow base through the receptacle and terminating adjacent to said cylinder, a drive member extending from the clock work mechanism through the tube, a gear on the drive member and a gear on the cylinder engaging the drive member gear.

3. In a flashing lantern, a hollow base having a fuel receptacle mounted thereon, said fuel receptacle having a top portion, a chimney mounted on said receptacle, a burner on said top portion and communicating with said receptacle, a cylinder mounted to rotate between said burner and said chimney, said cylinder including a transbe varied, a closure on said outer sleeve to prevent w upward passage of light, a clock work mechanism mounted in said hollow base, a tube extending from the hollow base through the receptacle and terminating adjacent tosaid cylinder, a drive member extending from the clock work mechanism through the tube, a gear on the drive member and a gear on the cylinder engaging the drive member gear.

ROY C. MILLER. 

